Sentence Fluency
5 Paper - Varied and Natural
The sentences in my paper are clear and delightful to read aloud.
- Some sentences are long and stretchy, while some are short and snappy.
- It's easy to read my paper aloud. I love the sound.
- Sentence beginnings vary; they show how ideas connect.
- You can tall that I have good 'sentence sense' because my paper just flows.
- All excess baggage has been cut. I've economized with words.
3 Paper - Routine and Functional
Some sentences are choppy or awkward, but most are clear.
- Some of my sentences are smooth and natural, but others are halting.
- Sentence beginnings are more alike than different.
- I need to add linking words (Therefore... Later... For this reason... When this happened...) to show how sentences connect.
- Some sentences should merge; others need to be cut in two.
- I have used more words than necessary -- I still need to trim some deadwood.
1 Paper - Needs Work
Because there isn't enough 'sentence sense' yet, this paper is difficult to read aloud, even with practice.
- As I read my paper, I have to go back, stop, and read over, just to figure out the sentences.
- I'm having a hard time telling where one sentence stops and another begins.
- The sentence patterns in my paper are so repetitive they might put my reader to sleep!
- I have to do quite a bit of oral editing (leaving some words out, putting some others in) just to help the listener get the meaning.
From The Student Friendly Guide to Writing with Traits by Vicki Spandel and Ruth Culham (503) 275-9500.